Monday, April 18, 2011

In the past two and a half months, I have been slowly easing my way into a routine where I have a regular sleeping pattern and where my eating habits are decent . But as always, in classic Alex fashion, I do something to throw off the entire routine by adding something to the schedule. Last week, I decided that I am going to go full force in trying to learn Japanese. I thought of different options: I can use Rosetta Stone, take private lessons once a week, or just get drunk at an izakaya (local bar) and learn the drunk Romeo lingo. In the end, I decided to go big or go home.

This morning I started a 3-month intensive where I am taking a beginner's Japanese class, Monday-Friday, from 10-12. I must say that I felt a little overwhelmed because of course, the entire class was in Japanese. The Language basically slapped me in the face and told me that I have a lot of work to do. She was mean to me today. But looking on the bright side, it is another opportunity to get better everyday. I thought it was pretty cool to see the other cultures that were learning Japanese for the first time. It is interesting to hear a Koreans, Chinese, and Spanish people learning Japanese with their respective accents.

In taking this class, I figured that I should dedicate this next three months to learning a foundation of the language so that I can at least have small talk with the locals. I feel that it is necessary to sacrifice these next 3 months in order to get the best experience for the rest of my stay. As ETtheHipHopPreacher says, "At any moment, you need to be able to sacrifice what you are for what you can become." For whatever it is that I will become, I am willing to sacrifice.

I also feel that learning a new language fluently will be a step towards my career, whenever she decides to reveal herself. I hope she likes me when she finds me.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Here's a little video of how I'm feeling two months in, as well as a tour of my room (I saw my friend Emi do something similar, so I wanted to try it). But before I do that, here are the notable quotes that I have come across in the last couple months.

"You are the only shadow standing in your own sunshine." - Fabio, Top Chef

"Can't is the cancer of happen." - Charlie Sheen

"A man who correctly guesses a woman's age is smart, but he is not bright."